Rack for stemmed glassware



1965 J. B. M CAULEY 3,214,031 I RACK FUR STEMMED GLASSWARE V 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 JOHN B. MCCAULEY N VE N T 0/?SPAR/(MAN RNEYS BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/S Oct. 1965 J. B. M CAULEY3,214,031

RACK FOR STEMMED GLASSWARE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 JOHN BMCCAULEY INVENTOR BUG/(HORN, BLO/PE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEWUnited States Patent 3,214,031 RACK FOR STEMMED GLASSWARE John B.McCauley, 2612 N. Killingsworth, Portland, Oreg. Filed Feb. 10, 1964,Ser. No. 343,842 12 Claims. (Cl. 21171) The present invention relates toa rack for glasses and more particularly to a rack for storing stemmedglassware in pendant position.

Stem glasses are expensive, and, because of their peculiar shapes andfragility, are particularly subject to breakage. Thus, handling andstorage of such glasses so as to minimize breakage has always been aproblem, especially in automatic glass washers and on open shelves wherethey are readily accessible. Previously suggested racks for stemmedglasses have not obviated the above difficulties, nor have they beenadapted for holding large quantities of such glassware.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved rack for supporting large quantities of stemmedglassware in pendant position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rackfor stemmed glassware, which can be safely stacked on top of other likeracks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rackinto which stemmed glassware can readily be placed and from which suchglassware can be easily removed, even while the rack is stacked beneathother racks.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedrack for storing stemmed glassware of various sizes and shapes and forprotecting such glassware from breakage.

Another object is to provide a portable rack for supporting stemmedglassware that can be placed, full of glasses, in an automatic glasswasher, wherein such glasses can be cleaned while thus supported andprotected from injury.

In furtherance of the above objects and in accordance with anillustrated embodiment, the rack includes a wire framework including aseries of transverse bridge members extending over the top of theframework and a series of spaced-apart, longitudinal stringers extendingside by side slightly beneath the bridge members from which glassware ispendantly suspended. The stringers are supported at one of their endsfrom above by one of the bridge members, and adjacent ones of thestringers define longitudinal slots, each having an open end underneaththe supporting bridge member for receiving the stems of the glassware.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become more apparentupon inspection of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of two of the racks of FIG. 1, stacked one ontop of the other;

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the rackof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a further modification inaccordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and front perspective views, respectively, ofstill further modifications in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form ofrack which consists of a wire framework 10 of generally rectangularshape suitable for placement in a glass washer. The framework has a base12, an upper, or top, portion 14, an open front end 16, a back end 18and sloping opposite sides 20. The base of the framework is composed oflower side members 22, which establish the length of the framework atits base, and lower end members 24 extending at right angles to andbetween the side members to establish the width of the base.

Each of the lower side members 22 is welded to the lower ends of fourupstanding leg members 26 which are inclined slightly inwardly towardthe upper portion of the framework to define the sloping sides 20. Thelower end members 24, also, are welded to opposed leg members 26, at aposition spaced slightly above the lower side members 22, as shownclearly in FIG. 2, so that the lower sides 20 overhang the lower ends toprovide lateral stability when two or more of the racks are stackedtogether.

Four bridge members 28 span the width of the framework and are eachjoined at their opposite ends to the upper ends of laterally opposed legmembers 26, each opposed pair of leg members and its connecting bridgemember preferably being bent from a single piece of wire. Extending sideby side beneath the bridges 28 are a plurality of spaced-apart, parallelstringers 30. Adjacent ones of the stringers 30 are spaced alternatelyrelatively closely together and relatively widely apart. The more widelyspaced pairs are joined together at one end of each in a loop 32,whereby the more closely spaced, unjoined adjacent stringers definelongitudinal slots 34 between the looped pairs for receiving the stems36 of glassware 38. The enlarged bases 40 of the glassware are supportedon adjacent stringers 30 defining the slots.

The looped ends 32 of the center stringers 30 are supported from aboveon L-shaped, vertical supports 42 which depend from the front bridgemember 28. The looped ends of the stringers 30 adjacent the sides of theframework are supported on horizontal supports 44 attached to the frontleg members 26. Thus, as most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the front bridgemember 28, with its depending supports 42, and the looped ends 32 defineunobstructed entrance openings into the slots 34 for the insertion andremoval of glassware 38. The distances between vertical supports 42 aregreater than the base diameter of the largest stemmed glass, and theclearance between the string ers 30 and bridge members 28 is ample topermit passage of the bases of the glassware 38 beneath such bridges.

At their opposite, unlooped ends, the stringers 30 are supported on ahorizontal upper cross member 46 which extends from side to side of theframework and'forms a closed end of each of the slots 34, whereby theglassware cannot be inadvertently pushed through the back end of therack.

An important feature of the rack as thus described is that several ofthem can be stacked one on top of another as shown in FIG. 2, andfurther, glasses can be inserted into and removed from all of the rackswhile so stacked. A pair of base stringers'47 extend the length of theframework between the lower side members 22. Each base stringer hascurled opposite ends 48 which project beyond the lower end members 24and support the upper rack 49 on the bridge members 28 of the lower rack50. Two lower cross members 51 intermediate the lower end members 24span the base and provide the supporting base stringers 47 with addedrigidity between their opposite ends.

Because the base of each rack is slightly wider than its .top andbecause the lower sides 20 overhang slightly the lower ends 16, 18, thetop of the lower rack 50 nests within the base of the upper rack 49 toprovide the upper rack with laterial stability. Longitudinal stabilityis provided by the intermediate bridge members 28 of the lower rack,which members support the upper rack should the latter rack, whenstacked, be misaligned forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the endsof the lower rack.

The series of bridges 28 not only serve to support the stringers 30 andother racks stacked on top of the framework 10, but also provideprotection from breakage for glassware 38 suspended within theframework.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a framework that is modified slightly toprovide greater stability when stacked than the framework 10 of FIG. 1.A portion of a lower rack 52 is illustrated, including a front bridgemember 53, a front leg member 54, a lower side member 56 and the loopedends 58 of paired stringers 60. Also shown is a portion of a front legmember 54 and a lower side member 56 of an identical upper rack 61. Thebridge member 53 joins the leg member 54 at an inwardly bent uppercorner which forms a horizontal shoulder 62. The lower side member 56,where it joins the lower end of the leg member 54, forms a downwardlyprojecting foot 64. The four feet 64 of the upper rack 61 hook over thefour corner shoulders 62 of the lower rack when the two racks arestacked one on top of the other. With this arrangement, the lowerstringers 47, cross members 51 and intermediate bridge members 28- ofthe framework of FIG. 1 can be eliminated if desired.

The overall dimensions of the racks 52 and 62 must be proportionedslightly dilferently than those for the rack 10 of FIG. 1 in order to bestacked as illustrated in FIG. 3. The base of the rack 52 has a slightlygreater length than the upper portion thereof to enable the feet 64 ofthe upper rack to hook over the shoulders 62 of the lower rack. However,the base Width of the rack is slightly less than the upper widththereof, whereby the lower side members 56 of the upper rack engage andare supported on the shoulders 62 of the lower rack. When stacked asshown, it will be readily apparent that the upper rack 61 cannot bemoved appreciably either laterally or longitudinally with respect to thelower rack 52.

Illustrated in FIG. 4 is a further modification of the framework of FIG.1 having a series of paired stringers 66, each pair being joinedtogether at both ends to form elongated closed loops and longitudinalslots 68 between adjacent loops. Bridge members 70 at the ends of theframework support both ends of the two center loops, and both ends ofeach side loop are supported on horizontal stub supports 72 from legmembers 74. Thus, both ends of each slot 68 are open. However, -ahorizontal stop member 76 extends from side to side of the back end ofthe framework and is spaced outwardly from the looped back ends 77 ofthe stringers 66 so as to define, together With the loops, a transverseslot 78 interconnecting all of the longitudinal slots 68. With thisconstruction, glassware in one of the longitudinal slots 68 can be movedvia the transverse slot 78 to a different one of the longitudinal slots'68, thus enabling removal from the rack of a desired glass at the rearof one slot 68 without first having to withdraw all other glassesforward of the desired glass in the same slot.

The rack of FIG. is of modified construction such that glassware isinserted in and removed from a central portion of an open side 79 of theframework. Two pairs of stringers 80 extend from each upper end of theframework toward the center thereof, iand each pair from one endterminates in a closed loop 82 at the center just short of a like pairextending from the opposite end. The loop stringers 80, together with asingle continuous side stringer 83 extending from one end to the otherend of the framework, define two longitudinal slots 84 bisected by acentral transverse slot 86. A pair of central bridge members 88 arecantilevered over the looped ends 82 from one side of the framework andsupport such looped ends from above. The opposite, unlooped ends of thestringers 80 terminate at 'upper end members 90 whereby'the only accessto the longitudinal slots 84 is from the open side 79 of the frameworkthrough the transverse slot 86.

The rack illustrated in FIG. 6 is of simplified construction in that ithas only a single bridge member 92, above the open front end 94 of itsframework. The bridge member supports looped ends 96 of paired stringers98, which define a series of slots 100 and terminate at a continuousupper cross member 102 at the back of the framework. The slots,therefore, are accessible only from the open front 94 of the rack. Thebase of the rack is open, and consists of only a pair of opposed lowerside members 104 connected by a single lower end member 106. Because ofthe open base and single bridge, suoh racks are not suited for stacking.

For the foregoing it will be evident that the number of glasses that canbe accommodated in a single rack is limited only by the number andlength of the longitudinal slots provided, which in turn depend on thesize of rack desired. The different slots in each rack can, of course,be of various widths to accommodate different stern sizes, but a singleuniform slot width slightly greater than the diameter of the largeststem expected will, in most instances, be sufiiciently narrow so thatthe smallest stemware can be supported.

Having illustrated and described several preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that suchembodiments admit of modification in arrangement and detail. It is myintention to claim as my invention all such modifications as come withinthe true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rack for supporting stemmed glassware in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) frame means defining a framework having opposite sides and ends, abase portion and an upper portion,

(b) elongate glass-supporting means extending across said upper portionintermediate said opposite sides and defining a slot for receiving thestems of said glassware,

(c) bridging means extending from one side of said framework over oneend of said glass-supporting means,

(d) said bridging means supporting in spaced relationship therefrom saidone end of said glass-supporting means,

(e) said bridging means and said one end of said glasssupporting meansdefining an unobstructed entrance opening for the insertion of saidglassware into said slot.

2. A rack for supporting stemmed glasswear in a pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework including opposite sides and ends, a base portionand an upper portion,

(b) bridging means extending transversely from one side of saidframework toward the opposite side thereof,

(0) stringer means extending across the upper portion of said frameworkbeneath and spaced from said bridging means,

(d) said stringer means defining a longitudinal slot for receiving thestems of said glasswear,

(e) at least one end of said stringer means being supported from aboveby said bridging means such that said bridging means and said one endprovide an open end of-said slot for the insertion of said glasswear.

3. A rack for supporting stemmed glasswear in a pendant positioncomprising:

-(a) a wire framework including opposite sides and ends, a base portionand an upper portion,

(b) bridging means extending transversely from one side of saidframework over said upper portion toward the opposite side thereof,

(0) a plurality of spaced-apart stringers extending side by side fromadjacent one end of the upper portion of said framework beneath saidbridging means,

(d) adjacent ones of said stringers defining a slot therebetween forreceiving the stems of said glasswear,

(e) said bridging means including downwardly extending support meanssupporting at least one of the opposite ends of said stringers such thatsaid bridging means, said support means and the bridge-supported ends ofsaid stringers define an entrance opening into said slot for theinsertion of said glasswear.

4. A rack for supporting stemmed glasswear in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework of generally rectangular shape including upstandingleg members connected by side and end members,

(b) a plurality of spaced-apart stringers extending side by side acrossan upper portion of said framework parallel to said side members,

() alternate ones of stringers being joined at one end thereof to acorresponding end of a different adjacent one of said stringers so as todefine a series of joined pairs separated by longitudinal slots,

(d) a bridge member extending from one side of said framework over thejoined ends of said pairs,

(e) support means extending downwardly from said bridge member andsupporting the joined ends of said pairs such that said bridge member,said support means and said joined ends define and unobstructed entranceopening for the insertion of glasswear into said slots.

5. A rack for supporting stemmed glasswear in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework of generally rectangular shape having oppositesides and ends, a base and an upper portion,

(b) said framework including at least two overhead bridge members eachextending transversely from side to side of said frame, one adjacenteach of said opposite ends,

(c) a series of spaced-apart stringers extending longitudinally inside-by-side relationship across the upper portion of said frame beneathsaid bridge members for supporting said glasswear,

(d) adjacent ones of said stringers defining a series of slotstherebetween for receiving the stems of said glasswear,

(e) at least one end of some of said stringers being supported fromabove by one of said bridge members such that the said one bridge memberand the bridge-supported ends of said stringers define entrance openingsinto said slots of sufficient size to insert said glasswear.

6. A rack for supporting stemmed glassware in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework of generally rectangular shape having oppositesides and ends, a base portion and an upper portion,

(b) said framework including a series of bridge members extendingtransversely from said opposite sides over said upper portion, one ofsaid bridge members being positioned adjacent each of said opposite endsand another said bridge member being positioned between said oppositeends,

(c) a plurality of spaced-apart stringers extending side by side acrossthe upper portion of said framework below said bridge members from oneof said ends to the other of said ends,

(d) alternate adjacent ones of said stringers being joined together in aloop at a corresponding end of each to define a series of looped pairs,

(c) said looped pairs defining a series of longitudinal slotstherebetween for receiving the stems of said glassware,

(f) the looped ends of at least some of said pairs being supported fromabove by an end one of said bridge members such that said slots are openat the ends thereof adjacent said looped ends of said pairs,

(g) and a continuous horizontal end member extending from side to sideof said framework supporting the opposite ends of said pairs and closingthe opposite ends of said slots.

7. A rack according to claim 6 wherein the distance from side to side ofsaid framework at the base thereof is greater than said distance at theupper portion thereof, and further wherein the lower margins of saidopposite sides overhang the lower margins of said opposite ends, wherebyidentical ones of said racks can be stacked one on top of the otherwithout appreciable lateral movement of the upper one ofsaid racks.

8. A rack according to claim 7 wherein the base portion of saidframework includes opposite lower side members, opposite lower endmembers spaced slightly above said side members, and intermediatelongitudinal base members extending between said opposite end membersand spaced slightly above said side members for support ing a lower oneof two or more said racks on the bridge members of an upper one of saidracks.

9. A rack according to claim 5 wherein said framework includesupstanding leg members extending between said base portion and saidupper portion at the opposite ends of said framework, lower side membersjoining the lower ends of said leg members in downwardly extending footportions, and the opposite ends of said bridge members definingshoulders for engaging said foot portions of an upper one of two or moresaid racks stacked one on top of another.

10. A rack according to claim 9 having a framework wherein the length ofsaid base is slightly greater than the length of said upper portion, andwherein the width of said base is slightly less than the width of saidupper portion.

11. A rack for supporting stemmed glassware in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework having opposite sides, a front end, a back end, abase portion and an upper portion,

(b) at least two overhead bridge members one adjacent each of saidopposite ends extending transversely from one of said sides to the otherthereof,

(c) a plurality of elongate closed wire loops extending side by side ina common plane across the upper portion of said framework beneath saidbridges,

(d) adjacent ones of said loops being spaced apart to define a series oflongitudinal slots therebetween for receiving the stems of saidglassware,

(e) support means extending downwardly from each of said bridge memberssupporting the opposite ends of said loops,

(f) a horizontal stop member at the back end of said framework spacedlaterally outwardly from one end of said loops so as to define a lateralslot interconnecting said longitudinal slots, whereby a piece ofglassware can be inserted into one of said longitudinal slots from thefront end of said framework and removed from another of said slots atthe same end of said framework.

12. A rack for supporting stemmed glassware in pendant positioncomprising:

(a) a wire framework of generally rectangular shape having oppositesides and ends, a base portion and an upper portion,

(b) a pair of horizontal upper end members extending from side to sideof said framework one at each of said opposite ends,

(c) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart pairs of stringers extendingparallel to one another toward the center of said upper portion fromeach of said upper end members,

(d) the inwardly extending ends of each of said pairs 7' :8 from one ofsaid upper end members terminating in supported from above by-saidbridge members so as a closed loop inthe center portion of said frametodefine entrance openings into each ofsaid :longiwork in longitudinallyspaced relationship from an tudinal slots from said central'slot.inwardlyextending'looped'end of alike pair from the other of said upperend members, References Clted by the Examiner -(e) the looped ends ofsaid longitudinally spaced UNITED STATES PATENTS pairs defining acentral transverse slot extending from side to side of said framework,Juvls 220*97 (f) laterally adjacent ones of said pairs defining longi-312t248 3 098 568 7/63 La P1erre 21160 tudmalvslots intersecting saidcentral slot, 1 (g) a pair of bridge members, each extending trans-References Cited y the'APPlimIlt versely from one side of said frameworkone over 560,447 5/96 VOege. the looped ends of said laterally spacedpairs from 3,022,899 2/62 U th each of said upper end members, (h) thelooped innerends of each of said pairs being 15 CLAUDE Primary-Examiner-

1. A RACK FOR SUPPORTING STEMMED GLASSWARE IN PENDANT POSITIONCOMPRISING: (A) FRAME MEANS DEFINING A FRAMEWORK HAVING OPPOSITE SIDESAND ENDS, A BASE PORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION, (B) ELONGATEGLASS-SUPPORTING MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID UPPER PORTION INTERMEDIATESAID OPPOSITE SIDES AND DEFINING A SLOT FOR RECEIVING THE STEMS OF SAIDGLASSWARE, (C) BRIDGING MEANS EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID FRAMEWORKOVER ONE END OF SAID GLASS-SUPPORTING MEANS,